PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ali Magamutdinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benoit Bizimana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bizimana comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Fela Soul kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Benoit Bizimana told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Magamutdinov
vs
Bizimana

161 cm
26
138 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

164 cm
26
146 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ali Magamutdinov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Benoit Bizimana!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Sandra Marshall and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Magamutdinov throws a lazy uppercut
and Bizimana counters with a straight right hand.
Magamutdinov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bizimana counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Bizimana scores with a nice right hand.
Magamutdinov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bizimana defends well and Magamutdinov ends up having to push Bizimana into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bizimana softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
We've been hearing reports that Magamutdinov has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Bizimana escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Magamutdinov throws a jab when Bizimana was well out of range.
Magamutdinov with a poor takedown
and Bizimana counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ali Magamutdinov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Magamutdinov shoots in and drives through. Bizimana sprawls well.
Bizimana getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magamutdinov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bizimana.
Magamutdinov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bizimana counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Magamutdinov thinking.
Bizimana jabs at Magamutdinov's body.
Magamutdinov walks into a stiff left hand from Bizimana.
Bizimana lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Magamutdinov is rocked!
Magamutdinov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Bizimana connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Oh Magamutdinov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bizimana's coach down at Clean and Green was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Bizimana's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Magamutdinov shoots and misses
and Bizimana counters with a right, left combo that wobbles Magamutdinov badly! Bizimana follows up with a massive right hook, straight to the bridge of the nose that knocks Magamutdinov out cold! Oh wow, what a finish! Very reminiscent of Koscheck vs Yoshida as Bizimana finished him against the cage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Benoit Bizimana!
A victorious Benoit Bizimana thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.